Archive for March, 2015

To explain this recent post from me…I need to let you know this is an e-mail response to Esther Cepeda, a very perceptive columnist with the Washington Post Writer’s Group. and I quote: “This adoration, this chest thumping awe for a subject is what creates lifelong learners. This dynamism about a topic…really any topic..so enthusiastically passed on to a student is what makes education life-altering.

Its absence is often what can make learning so painfully boring.” Esther goes on to talk about the importance of technology, but by clarifying “But in addition to nifty tech tools for spreading worthwhile information, what education really needs more of are experts who are able to spread their zeal to those who aren’t aware that learning, when it’s hard work, can be such great fun!” This was taken from her article, “An Ode to the Joy of Inspired, and Inspiring, Teaching.” Boy…does this wise lady “Get it”…. The following is what I wrote to Esther:

HAPPY SUNDAY, ESTHER!!!! My 93 year old sharp Mom E cut out an EXCELLENT article in our local paper near Portland, Oregon…because she knows over my teaching of 40 years at the elementary level…MY PROFESSION WAS MY PASSION!>>>>>LUCKY ME! i was fortunate to love each and every year, until toward the end OF MY CAREER, and when “NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND”…LEFT ALL OF US BEHIND!

Now, AGAIN, teachers are being “dictated to” as to what to teach, how to teach, how long to teach it and how to evaluate that teaching. This is ludicrous…to cut out the best parts of education AND TEACHER’S CREATIVITY…and in some districts cutting out the necessary recess….so the teachers can “bore” the children more! I call it “Torture Time” for many who do not have the background for what they are supposed to grasp in fast paced lessons!

My classes from K-5 all experienced LEARNING THROUGH PLAY and GAMES, POETRY AND SONGS FOR LEARNING INFORMATION, WRITING WITH CLASSICAL “THINKING MUSIC” playing in the background, (PROBABLY BEETHOVEN)…AND MAKING their education ACTIVE, ENGAGING, AND EXCITING FOR EACH AND EVERY STUDENT! (I remembered that was how I learned best when I was in school.) Plus it was more enjoyable to entertain the children, and the time flew by for all. They loved coming to school, and so did their “grateful teacher”! The parents loved to help in the classroom, and everyone there felt valued…the young and old alike.

My years of fun were from 1968-2008!!! When education changed again for the worse, in my estimation …with Common Core Standards, and no creativity time for teachers or the children, I was happy to be retired! The joy of teaching had been stripped away from us, I felt. However in my quest to SAVE OUR STUDENTS, SAVE OUR SCHOOLS, AND SAVE OUR SANITY… = SOS…I had to write MY book with the flyer attached… to bring attention to “what we are doing to children“, when years of brain research has shown over and over how wrong the antiquated educational system IS. Hopefully my book will be read by many, and validate what so many are finally noticing…. THAT many of our boys hate school by the tender age of 6… This is especially true, if they are not being taught at their DEVELOPMENTAL LEVEL, but at their chronological age!

Finally, i HAD TO COMMEND YOU FOR NOTICING THAT PASSIONATE TEACHERS DO MATTER! Many of the good ones are now wanting to “escape” as well. HUGS, LINDA MARIE GILLIAM http://www.teacheradvocate.com Read my flyer and website when you have some time. (THE ATTACHMENT IS THE FLYER….YOU MAY KNOW SOMEONE WHO MIGHT NEED THE HELP?) “THE SEVEN STEPS TO HELP BOYS LOVE SCHOOL: TEACHING TO THEIR PASSION FOR LESS FRUSTRATION!” by… LINDA MARIE GILLIAM… IS PUBLISHED BY ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT.

BTW…MY BOOK WILL BE OUT ALL OVER THE WORLD APRIL 1ST….COOL? HOPE THIS ATTACHMENT OPENS FOR YOU… PLEASE FORWARD TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED… OR HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN NOW IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL? It is my belief, that over my 40 years of teaching (and lucky for me my passion), our antiquated schools systems have changed very little. Education can spend all the money in the world… but WILL get the same “lack luster” results if we do not change HOW we are teaching. Reminding me of the definition of INSANITY: “Doing the same things over and over, and expecting a different result!”.